U-boat patrols

Patrol info for U-860

Date lookup for 15 Jun 1944


DepartureArrival / FateDuration
11 Apr 1944Kiel15 Jun 1944Lost66 days

Commander

Officers *


FrgKpt. Paul Büchel

U-860's position on 15 Jun 1944

Ships hit by U-860 on this date

General Events during this patrol

We have no events listed for this date.

Add more events! If you know of an interesting event either missing from this date or an upcoming event that you'd like to share please contact us. We continuously update these databases.

Attacks on U-860 during this patrol

15 Jun 1944
Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down:
American Avenger (VC-9 USN, pilot Ens G.E. Edwards, Jr.)

12.21 hrs, South Atlantic approx. 575 miles (925km) S of St. Helena: attack by a Grumman Avenger from USS Solomons. The aircraft made four attack runs and was shot down on the last, crashing into the sea and killing the crew of three. Its contact report resulted in more air attacks from the carrier, which sank U-860.

(Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)

15 Jun 1944
Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down:
American Avenger (VC-9 USN, pilot Lt (jg) W.F. Chamberlain)

The sinking of U-860
At 19.22 hrs the boat was located by an Avenger from USS Solomons, which immedately sent reinforcements. Three attacks commenced at 19.46 hrs and sank U-860 seven minutes later. The first was a co-ordinated strafing and rocket attack by two Avengers (Lt Cdr H.M. Avery and Ens M.J. Spear) and two Wildcats (Ens T.J. Wadsworth and Ens R.E. McMahon). Wadsworth had to return to the carrier due to flak damage to a drop tank. A similar attack by McMahon and another Avenger (Lt (jg) D.E. Weigle) then followed. Rocket hits were scored in both attacks, and another Avenger (Lt (jg) W.F. Chamberlain) then dropped two depth charges, covered by a strafing run from Lt Cdr Avery. Flak damage and the explosions of the depth charges directly forward of the conning tower set the Avenger on fire, and it ditched in the sea ahead of the boat. U-860 then sank, leaving 30-40 survivors in the water. USS Straub and USS Herzog arrived during the night and rescued 20 German survivors, including the commander, but no trace of the Avenger crew was found.

(Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)

About this data
If you believe we have missed an attack on a German U-boat in this listing please let us know.

Return to see the full info on this patrol


See all patrols for U-860


* These are officers that later became commanders themselves.

Return to U-boat Patrols main page